July 26, 2013

Nate Livings practices for the first time; Mackenzy Bernadeau expected back next week

Cowboys left guard Nate Livings was eased back into practice Friday after sitting out the first week with a "boo-boo" on his foot. The cut has healed, and Livings is happy to be back.

"They were being cautious," Livings said after practice. "Football is football. I’ve been playing this game for awhile. It hurts not to be out there to see my teammates going to war, and I’m not there. It’s just good to be back."

The Cowboys have been without their two starting guards from last season. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (hamstring) is expected to participate for the first time next week.

The Cowboys expected starting five of Tyron Smith, Livings, Travis Frederick, Bernadeau and Doug Free have yet to practice together.

"I don’t know who our starting five is going to be yet," Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "That’s a very competitive situation, and that’s what we want. But what we do want is everybody out there competing. That’s very important that they get out there on the field. I think they know it. No one ever wants to use anything as an excuse, but obviously we were pretty injured from start to finish last year in a lot of areas, but in that area as well. I think the sooner we can get our guys out there, the sooner we can get them competing, the sooner we can get them under Bill Callahan, who is one of the best in the business, and we’ll be a better offensive line. For us to accomplish what we need to accomplish and get to where we want to get to, we have to improve in the offensive line. We have to run the ball better. We have to protect Tony better and it all starts up front."